Utility tub construction



April 21, 1964 B. E. Musl-Ela 3,129,436

UTILITY TUB CONSTRUCTION Filed DeG. 7, 1962 FIG.-

BY milf/7M ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,129,436 UTILITY TUBCONSTRUCTION Bernard E. Mustee, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to E. L.Mustee & Sons, Inc. Filed Dec. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 243,012 7 Claims. (Cl.4-183) The present invention relates to utility tub constructions, andmore specifically to double utility tub assemblies using lightweightmolded plastic tubs.

In utility tub constructions of the type described, the tubs arecustomarily molded as separate units and mounted on a tub base whichsupports the tubs at a convenient working height. As compared to theformerly used concrete utility tubs, molded plastic tubs oder manyadvantages. For example, molded tubs are lightweight and thus are easierto handle, ship and install. However, heretofore, there has 4been a needfor an effective and inexpensive manner of securing the tubs to the tubbase. Because the plastic tubs are lightweight, they rnust be secured insuch a way as to prevent their being dislodged or accidentally moved.Further, since the lightweight molded tub constructions are relativelyresilient, they must -be mounted so as to prevent exing of their bottomwalls which, in the past, has led to the development of leaks around thedrain connections.

Prior art attempts to use bolts and other conventional fasteners toconnect molded plastic tubs to their bases have not been successful forseveral reasons. The plastic material from which the tubs are formeddoes not lend itself to the molding of bolt holes. AIn addition, therelatively thin tub walls have been found to require pads or bosses inthe areas where the bolt holes are to be formed. Although it is possibleto mold in varying thicknesses to form pads and bosses, such a moldingoperation is diflicult and economically impractical. The bonding of boltheads to the outside of the tub walls is also costly and, hence,impractical. Furthermore, it is difficult to prevent leakage aroundconventional fasteners.

Prior laundry tub constructions wherein the utility tubs are secured tothe tub stand without the use of conventional fasteners have beenrelatively expensive and often have not provided the rigidity necessaryto withstand normal home use. 'In one such prior double tubconst-ruction, a conventional drain plug and lock nut assembly is usedto secure each individual tub to the tub base. The drain plugs extenddown through openings in the center of the bottom walls of the tubs andthrough corresponding holes in two support straps that form a part ofthe base. The lock nuts are threaded on the extending ends of the drainplugs to secure the `tubs to the supporting straps. Slip nuts alsothread on the extending ends of the drain plug to connect tailpipes andother drain pieces between the drain pipe and the drain plugs. Althougheliminating many of the problems associated with conventional fasteningmeans, the use of the several slip nuts, washers and other plumbingpieces unduly adds to the cost of installation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedplural utility tub assembly wherein molded plastic utility tubs aresecurely held to the tub base Without bolts or similar conventionalfasteners and with a minimum number of parts forming the tubdrainassembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedplural utility tub assembly which permits the use of identically moldedtubs having uniform wall thicknesses.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved twin utility tub construction wherein the tubs are molded froma plastic material and are secured to a tub base so as to preventflexing of the tub walls and movement of the tubs relative to the base.

According to the preferred construction contemplated by the invention, apair of identical utility tubs are molded to have a uniform wallthickness throughout and a drain outlet opening adjacent one wall. Theutility tubs are arranged on -a tub base having a single center supportso that the drain outlet openings are adjacent and aligned with thehold-down openings in the center support. In order to secure the tubs inan assembled position, a twin waste fitting is disposed under thesupport member of the base and ldrain plugs are inserted through thedrain outlet openings and threaded into corresponding openings in thetwin waste iitting. Preferably, a divider strip is inserted betweenflanges formed on the uppermost portions of the adjacent tub walls so asto be compressed slightly as the -drain plugs are threaded into the twinwaste member.

Among other advantages, the preferred assembly eliminates the use ofslip nuts, washers and expensive drain iittings which have been requiredin prior art arrangements. The cost of the assembly is further reducedbecause of the simplified tub base construction which includes only asingle support member for both tubs. At the same time, the novel`assembly achieves a. rigid connection of the tubs which eliminates anytendency of the tubs to rock on the stand or to move relative to eachother.

It will also be seen that the invention facilitates economical moldingoperations, since there is no need to mold the tubs with bosses or pads.Further, it is not necessary to provide right and left hand tubs such asrequired in many prior art constructions. As noted above, the tubs canbe iden-tically formed and interchangeably secured on either side of thetub base.

Other objects and advantages of the Iinvention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

' lFIGURE. l is a partially exploded, perspective view of the utilitytub assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation View of the assembly shown in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarger, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a portionof the assembly; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the twin utility tub assembly is indicated generally bythe reference character i0. As shown, the twin utility tub assemblyincludes tubs 11, 11 and a tub base or stand 13.

The tub base 13` is preferably fabricated to include two separatelyformed end sections 14, 15 and a center connecting section 16. The endsections vv14, 15 each include several angle pieces joined at their endsto cooperatively define a support surface 21 upon which the tubs 11, 11rest. Legs 22 are provided at the corners of the end sections 14, 15 andare joined to the angle pieces by conventional metal fasteners. Thecenter section lo is formed by a center hold-down and support plate 24and by channel members 2S, 26 which are connected to the ends of theplate. The legs of the U- shaped end sections 14, 15 slide Within thechannel members 25, 26 so that the base can be easily assembled. Thehold-down and support plate 24 includes openings 27, 28 which are usedboth for a drain system and in a hold-down assembly for the utility tubs11, 11' as will be more fully explained below.

The utility tubs 11, $11 are identical and are prefera- -bly molded fromliber-reinforced plastic material or the like. The tubs 11, 11respectively include side Walls l cost of manufacture.

Bil- 34, 31-34, bottom walls 35, 35', and rim portions 36, 36' formedaround the top edges of the side Walls 31-34 and 31-34. Each tubstructure further includes a drain outlet opening 38 and 38' formed inthe bottom walls 35, 35', respectively near the side Walls 34, 34'. Whenthe tubs 11, 11 are assembled on the tub stand 13, the tubs are placedso that the walls 34, 34 are adjacent each other. in this assembledposition, peripheral portions of the bottom walls 35, 35 of the tubs 11,11 rest on the support surfaces 21 and the drain outlet openings 38, 38are aligned with the openings 27, 28, respectively.

The tubs 11, 11 are held to the tub stand 13 by the fittings 40, 46 anda single drain casting or waste fitting 41. The drain fittings 4G, 40"are preferably conventional drain plugs having a threaded pipe portionand an upper collar portion. The casting 41 includes two internallythreaded inlets 42, 43 and a single outlet 44. As shown in FIGURE 2, thedrain plugs 40, 4%' extend through the drain outlet openings 3S, 3S andthe plate openings 27, 28 and are threaded into the inlets 42, 43 of thecasting 41. The threaded connections of the plugs 4G, 40 to the castingor fitting 41 serve to clamp the bottom tub walls 35, 35 to thehold-down and support plate 24. A slip nut 49 and a slip washer 50 areprovided to secure the outlet 44 of the casting 41 directly to the drainpipe 51.

A resilient divider strip 45 is provided between the adjacent rimportions 36, 36 of the tubs 11, 11'. The divider strip 45 preferablyincludes oppositely opening grooves 46, 47 which receive the rimportions to form a tight sealed lconnection between the tubs. Thedivider strip 45 serves to maintain horizontal alignment of the adjacentportions of the rims 36, 35 and also aids in securing the tubs in theirassembled positions, as will be discussed hereinafter.

A combination soap dish and faucet block 54 is provided and serves as aclip between the adjacent portions of the rims 36, 36. The combinationsoap dish and faucet block 54 includes an upper dish plate 55, a lowerclamping plate 56 and a faucet mounting block 57. Conventional fasteners5S are inserted through holes in the soap dish plate 55 and the clampingplate 56 to clamp the portions of the rims 36, 36r therebetween. It willbe seen that the clamping function of the combination soap dish andfaucet block provides additional stability and rigidity to the utilitytub assembly.

As discussed above, the minimum number of parts required in the presenttwin utility tub assembly adds to the simplicity of the structure aswell as lowering its The provision of the twin waste fitting 41 as partof the twin utility tub assembly greatly simplifies `final installationof the twin tub assembly 10. The additional tail pipes, slip nuts andslip washers normally required to connect the individual tub outlets toa twin waste drain assembly are eliminated, as are the lock nutsnormally used to secure the drain fittings to the hold-down plates. Inaddition, the end support of the bottom walls of the individual tubsplus the abutting relationship of their adjacent-most rim portions serveto stabilize the tubs against any tendency to rock or move on the tubstand and increase the tubs resistance to deformation.

Another feature of the invention resides in the unique arrangement ofthe tubs and the cooperating position of the waste fitting 41 whichtogether produce stability in the simplified tub assembly. It will beseen that the openings 38, 38' which receive the threaded drain plugconnections for the Waste fitting are next to the adjacent tub Walls 34,34. When the drain plugs 4t), 40' are threaded into the waste fitting,the tub walls 34, 34 are krigidly positioned so as to tightly compressthe divider strip 45( between the tub flanges 36, 36. As a result, thetubs 11, 1i are effectively secured together to form a rigid -unit whichcannot rock or move on the base 13.

Further, if an upward force is exerted on an end of one tub, as byattempting to pick up the assembly by the flange of the tub wall 32, theeffective abutting relationship of the adjacent flanges 36, 36 serves toprevent any movement of one tub relative to the other.

It will also lbe seen that the rigid, simplified structure of theinvention is achieved without the use of the fastening devices whichheretofore have precluded economical molding operations and have led tothe development of leaks and other defects. Because of this feature ofthe invention, the tubs can be identically molded and advantageously canbe formed to have uniform wall thicknesses. As has been previouslypointed out, the tub base 13 also facilitates economical manufacture andconvenient assembly, since it includes only a single center supportmember 24.

Many modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in view of the foregoing detailed description.Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specificallyshown and described.

What is claimed is:

l. A plural utility tub assembly comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a plurality of tubs disposed on said base;

(c) each of said tubs including side and bottom walls;

(d) said tubs being identical and of a moldable material;

(e) each of said bottom walls having a drain outlet formed adjacent oneside wall;

(f) said tubs arranged so that said drain outlet openings are closelyadjacent;

(g) said base including a hold-down portion disposed beneath at leastportions of all such bottom walls, said hold-down portion includingopenings aligned with each of said drain outlets;

(k) drain fittings disposed in said drain outlets;

(i) a single piece multiple waste fitting having inlets in alignmentwith said drain fittings; and,

(j) said drain fittings connecting with said multiple waste fitting atsaid inlets to securely fix said bottom Walls to said hold-down portionand to provide waste drainage for all said utility tubs.

2. A twin utility tub assembly, comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) first and second preformed plastic tubs of a uniform thicknessdisposed on said base;

(c) each of said tubs including side and bottom Walls;

(d) each of said bottom walls having a drain outlet formed adjacent aside wall;

(e) said tubs arranged in a back-to-back relation so that said drainoutlets are closely adjacent;

(f) said base including a hold-down portion disposed beneath at leastportions of all said bottom walls, said hold-down portion includingopenings for alignment with each of said drain outlets;

(g) drain fittings disposed in said drain outlets;

(h) a twin waste fitting having twin inlets in alignment with said drainfittings and positioned against said hold-down portion on a sideopposite said bottom walls; and

(i) said drain fittings being connectable to said twin waste fitting tosecurely clamp said bottom walls to said hold-down portion and toprovide waste drainage for all said tubs.

3. A utility tub assembly comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a plurality of identical tubs disposed on said base;

(c) each of said tubs including side and bottom walls defining anarticle holding compartment having an upper article-receiving opening,and a rim extending outwardly from the uppermost portions of said sidewalls;

(d) each of said bottom walls sloped in relation to a plane defined bysaid article-receiving opening;

(e) each of said bottom walls having a drain outlet in a portionlowermost to said plane and adjacent a side wall;

(f) said tubs arranged together on said base with their drain outlets inan adjacent relation and with portions of the rims extending fromadjacent walls toward one another;

(g) a resilient divider strip between said rim portions, said dividerstrip including grooves each receiving one of said rim portions;

(h) a hold-down member fixed to said base and disposed beneath thelowermost portion of all such sloping bottom walls, said hold-downmember including openings aligned with each of said drain outlets;

(i) drain fittings disposed in said drain outlets;

(j) a single piece waste fitting having inlets in alignment with saiddrain fittings and positioned against said hold-down member on a sideopposite the bottom walls; and

(k) said drain fittings connecting with said Waste fitting to securelyfix said bottom walls to said hold-down member and to maintain the rimportions tightly in the grooves of said divider strip.

4. A utility tub assembly comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a plurality of tubs disposed on said base;

(c) each of said tubs including side walls and a bottom wall;

(d) each of said bottom walls having a drain outlet formed adjacent oneside wall;

(e) said tubs being arranged on said base so that said drain outlets areclosely adjacent;

(f) a waste iitting having portions defining a plurality of draininlets;

(g) drain plugs in said drain outlets, said drain plugs connecting withthe portions defining said inlets so that said outlets and inlets arealigned; and

(h) said base including a hold-down portion having openings receivingsaid drain plugs, and the hold down openings being aligned with saidoutlets when said drain plugs connect with said waste fitting tosecurely lock said tubs to said base.

5. The utility tub assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said tubs areidentical and are molded of a synthetic plastic material in a uniformthickness throughout their entire extents.

6. The utility tub assembly of claim 4 including, in combinationadjacent side walls of said tubs including rim portions extendingoutwardly frorn the tubs to an abutting position when the tubs aresecured on said base; and

(j) means maintaining said rim portions in said abutting position.

7. A utility tub assembly comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a plurality of tubs disposed on said base;

(c) each of said tubs including side and bottom walls and a rimextending outwardly from the uppermost portions of said side walls;

(d) each bottom wall having a drain outlet oi-center near one side wall;

(e) said tubs arranged together on said base with their drain outlets ina closely adjacent relation and with adjacent portions of the rimsextending toward one another;

(f) a resilient divider strip including grooves receiving said adjacentrim portions;

(g) a single piece multiple waste fitting having inlets in alignmentwith said drain outlets;

(h) said base including a hold-down portion having openings aligned withsaid drain outlets; and,

(i) drain fittings disposed in said drain outlets and in said hold-downopenings, said drain fittings connecting with the inlets of saidmultiple waste fitting to securely fix said tubs to said base and tomaintain said adjacent rim portions tightly in the grooves of saiddivider strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS799,951 Thourot Sept. 19, 1905 1,112,790 Hansen Oct. 6, 1914 1,369,902Miller et al. Mar. 1, 1921 2,053,830 Hunker Sept. 8, 1936 2,588,464Bargman Mar. 11, 1952

4. A UTILITY TUB ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: (A) A BASE; (B) A PLURALITY OFTUBS DISPOSED ON SAID BASE; (C) EACH OF SAID TUBS INCLUDING SIDE WALLSAND A BOTTOM WALL; (D) EACH OF SAID BOTTOM WALLS HAVING A DRAIN OUTLETFORMED ADJACENT ONE SIDE WALL; (E) SAID TUBS BEING ARRANGED ON SAID BASESO THAT SAID DRAIN OUTLETS ARE CLOSELY ADJACENT; (F) A WASTE FITTINGHAVING PORTIONS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF DRAIN INLETS; (G) DRAIN PLUGS INSAID DRAIN OUTLETS, SAID DRAIN PLUGS CONNECTING WITH THE PORTIONSDEFINING SAID INLETS SO THAT SAID OUTLETS AND INLETS ARE ALIGNED; AND(H) SAID BASE INCLUDING A HOLD-DOWN PORTION HAVING OPENINGS RECEIVINGSAID DRAIN PLUGS, AND THE HOLD DOWN OPENINGS BEING ALIGNED WITH SAIDOUTLETS WHEN SAID DRAIN PLUGS CONNECT WITH SAID WASTE FITTING TOSECURELY LOCK SAID TUBS TO SAID BASE.